Increased Emphasis on Rain Visibility as a Crucial Safety Concern

Formula Regional driver van ‘t Hoff tragically lost his life during a race at Spa on Saturday. On the final lap, he spun on the Kemmel straight in heavy rain and was struck by a following car due to poor visibility caused by severe spray.

This incident drew comparisons to Anthoine Hubert’s fatal accident in the 2019 F2 round. While the conditions were dry during Hubert’s accident, it involved a driver’s inability to react to a stationary car in front, which occurred at Raidillon, close to where van ‘t Hoff’s accident took place.

The incident also sheds light on the controversial 2021 Belgian Grand Prix, which was halted after only three safety car laps due to the atrocious weather conditions.

Lando Norris, a prominent Formula 1 driver, stresses that the lack of visibility caused by spray is a significant safety concern that needs urgent attention.

“Among the numerous safety measures implemented, I believe this issue should be prioritized as one of the next crucial topics to be addressed,” Norris stated. He emphasized the severe limitations faced by drivers, saying, “When you’re not in the car, you fail to grasp the severity of the situation. You can’t see anything beyond a few meters, and that’s extremely dangerous.”

Norris provided examples of potential hazards in different circuits, such as Spa or the Red Bull Ring, where a sudden obstruction on the track may go unnoticed until it’s too late to react.

To address this concern, Formula 1 and the FIA are currently exploring the development of wheel arches or ‘mudguards’ designed specifically for wet conditions. A test is scheduled to take place at Silverstone following the British Grand Prix.

Norris commented on the importance of this test, particularly in navigating challenging sections like turn two, saying, “It feels like driving blind at times. Sometimes it’s almost better to close your eyes and hope for the best.”

Nyck de Vries, an AlphaTauri driver, believes that incidents like these demonstrate the seriousness of the dangers involved, indicating that the sport shouldn’t be criticized for adopting a conservative approach in extreme weather conditions.

“This is not a game. It clearly shows that there is significant danger, and we must take it seriously. We need to reconsider our stance on the track and the situation to prevent such incidents in the future,” de Vries remarked.

Esteban Ocon of Alpine shared a similar experience in a wet Formula Renault race at Spa, where he encountered identical visibility challenges. He stressed the need to learn from these situations, given the number of cars on the track, and expressed his sadness over the tragic events.

Oscar Piastri, Norris’ teammate, will participate in the FIA’s wheel arch trial alongside Mercedes test driver Mick Schumacher. Piastri welcomes the opportunity to contribute firsthand to addressing the visibility issue, recognizing the importance of mitigating such risks.

While the investigation into the accident is ongoing, it is clear that measures must be taken to prevent similar incidents from occurring in the future.

Note: The text has been rewritten to convey the same information while making minor modifications for clarity and readability.

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More about rain visibility

• 18-year-old Dilano van ‘t Hoff dies in Spa Formula Regional crash
• Stroll: F1 “playing with fire” if Spa is not changed after van ‘t Hoff’s death
• F1 Flow Images – Charles Leclerc, Ferrari SF-23, Lando Norris, McLaren MCL60
• FIA conducts wheel arch test after British Grand Prix
• AlphaTauri’s Nyck de Vries: Formula 1 doesn’t deserve criticism for being conservative in rain
• Esteban Ocon faced similar visibility challenges at Spa